As part of the Indo-US
Educational & Cultural Immersion Study Abroad Program organized by IUM-Ohio,
faculty & students of `Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
(USA)’ visited VatsalyaGram, Vrindavan. The key agenda of this visit was to
gain first-hand understanding of the different sustainable grass-root
interventions being successfully carried out in India.
VatsalyaGram – in all
probability the only of its kind welfare program in the world – has found
appreciation for its impactful works not only in India but many other countries
incl. the US of A. In fact, it has been formally appreciated by the Office of
the Mayor, Pearland; Sugar Land; Houston & County of Los Angeles.
The guests arrived on the 30th
of May after having visited the TajMahal - India’s contribution to the new 7
wonders of the world, and were warmly received by the VatsalyaGram team. Post
introductions the guests were then taken to our on-campus Guest-house. After
some much-required rest started the quest to discover India’s spiritual
heritage & history with a visit to the popular Temples at Vrindavan.
The following day, braving the
heat, the visitors toured the entire 50+ acre campus on foot, visiting every single
facility, every element that completes VatsalyaGram. The highlight of the tour
of course and which the students had been looking forward to, was meeting with
the Vatsalya families, particularly the children, at `Gokulam’ – the abode of
Vatsalya families. The guests were first taken to the `Gokulam’ Nursery (Shishu
Mangal), wherein all infants including the children with special needs are kept
and taken care of. The students poured their love onto these children and the
scene was emotionally overwhelming. They guests were then escorted to the homes
of the Vatsalya families where they interacted with the mothers & children.
Reciprocating the love showered to the children, the Guests were presented with
paintings created by the children.
